EPHESUS & KUSADASI, TURKEY, MAY 1993 AND APRIL 2011

Ephesus is the best preserved classical city on the Eastern Mediterenean. In ancient times it was a great trading and religious city and was once the home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ephesus became the Roman provincial capital and was known for its wealth and beauty, but was pillaged by Gothic invaders in 262 AD. Today the remains are so well preserved, that it is easy to get a feel for what life was during the Roman times.

Ancient Ephesus grew from a seaside settlement to a powerful trading port and sacred center for the cult of Artemis. Its fame drew the attention of a series of conquerors, among them Croesus of Lydia and 6th-century BC Cyrus of Persia. After a Greek uprising against the Persians failed, the people of Ephesus, exercising effective diplomacy, managed to avoid conflict by appeasing each side, both of whom took turns controlling the city until Hellenistic times. The city was visited by powerful leaders such as Alexander the Great, who aided the city in its efforts to rebuild. After he died, his lieutenant moved the city to its current location.

Some of these photos were taken during our first visit to Turkey in May 1993 using my old film camera. I scanned the prints to convert it to digital format. The rest of the pictures were taken during our trip on April-May 2011.